A Family Friendly Workplace Makes it possible for
A Family Friendly Workplace Makes it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work and to fulfill both their family and work obligations This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Infants to School Age Children need quality care when their parents are working This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Employers have many options One example: Partially subsidize a set number of slots in a childcare center for the use of their employees This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Create an Infant at Work Policy Clallam County has successfully established an infant at work policy See https: //www. doh. wa. gov/About. Us/ Workat. Health/Infantat. Work. Program Infant at work plans typically cover Infant care to the age of six months.
Small businesses can set up a homework room for short term after school care of children of employees. To be effective the employer needs to work out how the homework room will be monitored and also if there are options for allowing the young person to engage with his or her parent in any task in the workplace. For example: Holiday Inn Express in Sequim will allow a school age child to do homework after school in the breakfast room of the hotel while waiting for his or her parent to finish work. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND
Allow Flex Time This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND Many employees LOVE flex time. This allows them to fulfill their work duties and still attend a school conference, pick up children and transfer them to another setting or leave to have lunch with their child on occasion.
Job Sharing Job sharing has widespread support among parents of young children. This solution allows parents to be both an active parent and an active employee. This solution also allows for greater flexibility in fulfilling work obligations when a child is sick, or has a medical appointment etc. Some employers allow parents to make job sharing arrangements among themselves. Or the Human Relations staff make the arrangements as they often know who wants extra hours and is willing to take on extra hours.
Make the Workplace a Center for Parenting Information Bulletin boards with parenting information, a library of parenting books in the break room, a clothes exchange bin and allowing a speaker to come to talk on some aspect of parenting during the lunch break are just a few ideas. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Allow work away from the work site Many parents of young children are finding creative ways to both work and care for their young child at home. It is not easy and requires flexibility on the part of the employer and employee but is can be done well. One example in a two parent family: The parents take two or three hour shifts alternating care for their child and working.
Work Sponsored Family Events Simple events can mean a lot. Organizing a bowling party or a company picnic or sponsoring a Lefties game for employees and their children are popular ideas. Hotels with pools might allow a birthday party around thfor children of employees. After Covid-19 these morale boosting events can happen again. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
- Slides: 10